Flush type door handle



May 2, 1944. V

H. GEORGE FLUSH TYPE DOOR HANDLE.

Filed Feb. 8, 1943 2 Sheets-Shea? 1 ,V I VENTOR. "@@dO/P e May 2, 1944- H. F. GEORGE 2,348,065

FLUSH TYPE DOOR HANDLE Filed` Feb. 8, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @zly T-'eo e Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUSH TYPE DOOR HANDLE Harry F. George, Chicago, Ill.

Application February r8, 1943, Serial No. 475,125`

'16 Claims.

This invention relates. to a door handle and more particularly to one that is substantially ilush with the adjacent sides of the door, the handle being positioned in the cavity of a well, cup-member or depression, there being provided over the outer open side of the well, cup-member or depression, a sheet of flexible, resilient material that covers the `space thereinnand either covers, or surrounds the handle so that when the handle is grasped for operation by the lingers of H the operator, the sheet of iiexible, resilient material will readily yield inwardly to permit operation of the handle, and when the operators lingers are removed from the handle the sheet will automatically return to its original flat position and cover the cavity. e,

In doors of automobiles, airplanes and other moving vehicles it is dangerous to have projecting door handles, as they would tend to catch into the clothing of persons standing near the vehicle when starting or stopping, as well as strike other objects, cause dents in nearby automobiles or other vehicles, cause a retarding action due to wind resistance when the vehicle is moving more or less rapidly, and other dangers and undesirable features that would be incident to outwardly projecting door handles and associated parts. In the present invention I have eliminated such dangers and undesirable features by mounting the door handle in a depression, so that its outer endcomes substantially flushwith the adjacent sides of the door or other easement, and covering the cavity of such depression with a flexible, resilient sheet of material that will yield when the handle is operated and return to normal posi-I tion when the handle is released. f

Among the objects of my invention are to make possible the above advantages, and overcome the above and other disadvantages, in a device of the class described.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities will ---,.later more fully appear. j

My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have shown therein preferred embodiments I wish it understood that the same are susceptible of modiiication and change without departing from the spirit of Vmy invention. y

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a well, handle and flexible, resilient sheet covering, of a handle con- 'struction embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a rnedian plane of my device, certain of the parts being shown in elevation for convenience.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a modisition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and show-V ing the covering sheet in depressed position.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through a rnedian plane of a modified form of my device, and showing the handle in elevation.

'Fig'. 7 is a plan view oi' a further modified form of my invention. 4

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the device of Fig. -7 but showing the handle in elevation.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modlilcati'on.

Fig. 10 is a transverse'sectlon through a still further modiiied form of my invention.

Fig. 11 is a transverse section through another modified form of my invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 show a handle I and lock 2 mounted in the depression of a well or cup-member 3 se-V cured in any desired manner in a door or the like I.Y sojthat when the door handle is moved to closed position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 it will be substantially ush with the adjacent sides of the door or the like. As any suitable locking or latch mechanism desired may be used, the same need not be described in. detail, except to say in general that the latch bolt li will be longiudinally movable in an opening 6 in the side wall l-of the door or the like, so as to be projected into orretracted from a registering opening in the side wall 8 of the adjacent portion of the car, airplane,

.a sheet In of flexible, resilient material to cover the outer end of the cavity of the well 3 so as to be substantially iiush with the outer surface of the door or the like as seen in Fig. 2. This sheetl `may either cover the outer face of the handle as shown in Figs. '1. 8 and 10, or may have an opening therein of the same size and shape as the handle so that the handle wiu be positioned therein and be visible therethrough as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to enable the handle to be quickly grasped for operation.

This sheet I may be of any desired thickness (preferably thin enough to be quietly and easily ilexed by the operators lingers when grasping the handle) and of a material that may readily lnerr,

and resilient to return to its original position, such as rubber, plastic material, or any other material suitable for the purpose intended, p

This sheet may be secured around its perimeter to the well in any desired manner. One form of securing means is shown in Fig. 2 to consist of an over-turned ange Ii at the outer edge of the well and a supporting rib I2 of metal or any other suitable and available material, secured in any desired manner to the well member I. Between the iiange Il and supporting rib I2 the edge of the sheet III is mounted and held in place.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the handle is of the type that swings outwardly to operate the latch 5. However, my in'- vention is adapted to other forms and types of handles. For example in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, I have shown a handle that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the piane of the handle. In other words, the handle rotates in its own plane. As

shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the well I" is circular in cross-section, its outer portion being formed with an over-turned ilange Ii' and a rib il. similar to those in Fig. 2, to hold the perimeter of the ilexible, resilient sheet I l'. The sheet lll' is thin enough to be easily flexed, and on its inner face InFigal ands areshownamodinedformin which the sheet ila covers the well entirely and is preferably formed centrally along the upper side of the handle with a slit 2l to assist in guid ing the operators ilnsers to proper position to grasp the handle. as well as to permit the material on the two sides of the slit to be distorted in grasping the handle. Sheet Ila on its inner face is formed with spaced apart ribs 2| to assist in returning it to original nat position when the handle is released. In the form of Figs. 'l and 8 the sheet may turn with relation to the well. or not, as desired. a

In Fig. 9 is shown a slightly diierent construction for enabling the nexible sheet Ib to rotate with relation to the well s'. In this form the perimetal portion of the sheet is of generally cir cular cross-section and slidably mounted between the circular curved ilange Ila and the circularly curved rib lla to circumferentiaily slide therein. The sheet will ilex as in the other views and for a similar purpose.

I lc is preferably 'more thin than theothers so that it may entirely cover the handle, or almost entirely cover the handle, and is thin enough that itmay be iiexed around the edges of the handle when the handle is grasped for turning. In thisv is formed with circumferentiaily spaced apart ribs 'Il to return the sheet to nat condition when the handle is returned to normal position and the operators lingers removed, as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 shows the handle turned through 90 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 4, and with the sheet and ribs flexed due to being pushed inwardly as the handle rotates. The sheet I0' is also flexible enough to be easily ilexed inwardlyl by the operators ilngers when grasping the han die at the start of the turning operation.

Also if desired the perimetal edge portion il of the sheet may be slidably mounted between the ilange ii' and rib i2' so that the sheet may Arotatably slide therebetween as 'the handle is form a mark or marks of diiIerent color than the sheet, may be applied to the sheet, to enable the operator to quickly locate the position of the handleto facilitate grasping it. In this form the sheet may have perimetal movement with relation to the well, or not, asdesired. Also the portion 30 in which the keyhole of the lock is formted will be accessible througha hole in the shee Preferably the handle will be spring controlled to cause it to return to normal position when released. The construction of the present invention, when the car, airplane, or the like, is in motion, provides a stream-lined device which eliminates drag from wind resistance, and also prevents the handle from catching on, or striking. other objects, and prevents rain, snow and otherwise damaged it may be replaced by a new turned, so that the handle and sheet may rotate together and the well l' remain stationary- In the form shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the handle pl" is formed with a hub 'or stem i5 which is cenone that will snap on over an edge flange rim, or any other suitable projecting part, which in Fig. 11 is shown as the annular or other shaped ilange or rim 30. The covering Illd. may be rubber, plastic or any suitable ilexible material.

trally located in the well to rotate therein, and-- which has a portion (not shown) extending into the latch casing i6 to operate the latch in any suitable manner desired.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 the well la is formed with a circumferential groove l1 in registry with the circumferential groove is of the door walls, between two which grooves is mounted a circularly bent spring wire i9. to hold the well in place and permit its removal, andalso .permit its rotation in the door. This construction. permits the rotation of the handle i', the sheet i0 and the well 3a together as a unit, and at the same time the ilexing of the sheet down-f wardly around the handle by the operators tingers in grasping the handle, the sheet returning to normal nat position when the lingers are removed.

Metal .may also be used for the covering in any of the forms shown herein if of sumcient ilexibility. In Fig. 11 the edge 3l of the covering may be of any desired shape to facilitate the snapping 50 on or of! for repair, renewal, inspection or other purpose: The well member may be of metal, plastic or other suitable material. 'I'he door bodyin Fig. 11 is indicated at I2.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. In handle construction, a well member, a

handle rotatably mounted in said well member ifor operating a latch, the handle being substantially ilush ywith the well-member open side, and

, a flexible member covering the openlside of the 7o well, the exible member being resilient. yieldable and depressible into the well member by :lllxalilperatnrs fingers to enable grasping of the 2. In handle construction, in combination. a

7s well member, a handle, and a resilient member m Fig. 1o is shown a form inwmeh the sheet covering the open side of the well member, the resilient member being depressible into the well member by the oprator's fingers to enable grasping of the handle.

3. In handle construction, in combinatbn, a well member, Va handle, and a resilient member covering the open side of the well member, said member having an opening to receive the handle.

4. In handle construction, a door having a handle depression, a handle having one tace substantially liush with the edges of the open side of said depression, and a sheet oi.' iiexibie, resilient material over the open side of said depression. said sheet being depressible into the depression by the operators lingers to enable grasping of the handle.

5. In handle construction, a door having a handle depression, a handle having one face substantially iiush with the edges oi the open side of said depression, and'a sheet of iiexible, resilient material over the open side of said depression, said sheet having an opening oi.' the configuration of the handle to receive the handle.

6. In handle construction, a door having a handle depression, a handle rotatably mounted in said depression, a sheet of thin resilient material connected to the perimeter of the edge of the open side of the depression, said sheet covering the spaces of the open side of the depression, and capable of being iiexed by the lingers of the operator when grasping the handle.

7. In handle constructio a door having a handle depression, a handle rotatable mounted inV said depression, a sheet of thin resilient material connected to the perimeter of the edge of the open side of the depression, said sheet covering the spaces of the open side of the depression, and capable of being ilexed by the fingers oi the operator when grasping the handle, said sheet being returnable to normal position when the operators fingers are removed from the handle and the handle is in original position.

8. In handle construction, in combination, a handle receiving well member, having an open mouth, a handle movably mounted in said well member, a thin resilient sheet over the open mouth of the well member, said sheet being iiexed by the operators fingers when grasping the handle, and means slidably connecting the sheet to the well member to enable movement of the sheet with relation to the well member when returning the handle.

9. In handle construction, in combination, a supporting member having an opening therein, a weil member rotatably mounted in said opening, a handle movably mounted in the weil member,

and a sheet of thin resilient material over the' well member.

10, In handle construction, in combination, a well member, a handle rotatably mounted in the well member, and a thin resilient sheet over the well member and the handle, said sheet being depressible into the well member by the operators lingersto enable grasping andv operation of the handle.

11. In handle construction. in combination, a

handle supporting member having a depression,

5 a handle movably mounted in said depression,

and a thin resilient sheet covering the depression and the handle, said sheet having a slit over the handle to facilitate flexing the sheet by the operators iingers when grasping the handle.

12. In handle construction, in combination, a door having a depression, a well member mounted in said depression, a nange on the outer edge o! said weil member, a rib spaced from said flange but parallel therewith, a handlemovably mounted in said well member, a thin resilient sheet over the hollow of the well member, the perimeter of the sheet being seated in the space between said ilange and said rib, said sheet being depressible into the well member by the operators lingers to enable grasping and operation oi the handle.

13. In handle construction, a door having a handle depression, a handle movably mounted in said depression and having one lace substantially iiush with the outer face of the door, and a sheet of tiexibie plastic material connected to the outer edge portion of the depression and having an opening of substantially the same size and shape as the handle so as to be flexed by the operators fingers when grasping the handle and eliminate' resistance oi.' air in the depression and around the handle.

14. In handle construction, a door having a l1 andie depression. a handle movably mounted in said depression and having one tace substantially iiush with the outer tace of the door, and a sheet of rubber connected to the outer edge portion of the depression and having an opening of substantially the same size and shape as the handle so as to be exed by the operators fingers when graspo ing the handle and eliminate resistance oi air in the depression and around the handle. said rubber sheet having spaced ribs on its inner lace to facilitate the returning of the sheet to normal position when the handle is released.

15. Inhandle construction in combination, a door having a depression, a well member in said depression. a handle rotatably mounted in the well member, an annular guideway in the outer edge of .the well member, a sheet of flexible material having its perimeter mounted in said guideway, said sheet iiexing under pressure of the operators fingers when grasping the handle.

16. In handle construction in combination, a door having a depression, a well member in said depression, a handle rotatably mounted in the well member, an annular guideway in the outer edge of the well member, a sheet oi rubber having its perimeter mounted in said guideway, said sheet iiexing under pressure of the operators fingers the sheet being slidable in said guideway so that the sheet and handle may rotate approximately together with relation to the well member.

HARRY F. GEORGE.

when grasping the handle, the perimetal edge oi CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Patent no. 42,51;8,o65. myz, 191m.'

HARRY E. GEORGE.

It is hereby certified tlmlt error appears in the 'printed-'specification' of the above numbered petent requiring correctionfae followe: Page 5 first Mlm 11115 52 2181111 8, .for the word "returning" rend "tunning-F; and

thgt the said Letters 'Patent should lte. read vyirthia correction therein that the .same may confonn'fo che record of the cese in-te Patent 0ffice.

signed and sealed this nah aay or Jun, A. n. 19M.

Leslie Frazer (Sell) lActing` Commilsioner of Patents, 

